Methods for activating light extraction in textiles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for activating light extraction in textiles comprising the following steps: Providing a textile (10) with integrated light guides (16), Moving a roller (20) with a rough surface (22) under pressure over a surface (18) of the textile (10), thereby creating local defects on the sheath surface of the optical fibers (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for activating the light extraction in textiles with integrated light guides

[0002] Textiles with integrated light guides are increasingly being used to create lighting accents in the interior of motor vehicles. Typically, side-emitting light guides are used, which radiate light that is coupled into the light guide at one end face across their outer surface. The resulting lighting effect can be varied by incorporating the light guide into the textile. For example, different fabric types produce different lighting effects.

[0003] Furthermore, it is known to use optical fibers whose outer surface is partially roughened or in which a coating of the outer surface is partially removed, so that the optical fiber is locally activated and light is emitted via the outer surface in the activated regions. Such optical fibers can, for example, be activated at regular intervals to create a uniform light pattern. Activation is achieved, for example, by sandblasting or using a laser beam. Both methods have the disadvantage that a complex process is required to activate the optical fibers in the already manufactured textile without damaging the textile fibers.

[0004] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide an improved method for creating light accents in textiles. In particular, it is intended to provide a method for activating coated light guides already incorporated into a textile without damaging the textile fibers.

[0005] This object is achieved by a method according to patent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0006] In the method, a textile with integrated light guides is first provided. The light guides are preferably integrated into the textile in the direction of the surface extension. The textile can, for example, be a woven fabric into which one or more light guides are woven. The light guides can, for example, be arranged parallel to weft and / or warp threads. Alternatively, the textile can also be a braid, a knitted fabric or similar fabric into which the light guides are integrated. The light guides preferably form a surface of the textile, at least in partial sections. Flexible light guides made of plastic are preferably used as light guides. The light guides can be individual light guides or designed as a bundle of several optical fibers. The light guide has a core which is surrounded by a lateral surface.The lateral surface can be an outer surface of the core; particularly preferably, the lateral surface is formed by a cladding that surrounds the core circumferentially. Light radiated into the light guide from the end face is reflected by total internal reflection at the lateral surface and travels through the light guide.

[0007] According to the invention, a roller with a rough surface is moved with pressure over the surface of the textile, whereby local defects are applied to the outer surface of the light guide. The rough surface can, for example, be made like sandpaper. The rough surface of the roller is preferably made in such a way that it presses into the outer surface of the light guide and creates surface changes there, preferably depressions, whereby total internal reflection is interrupted at these points. Total internal reflection occurs as long as the angle of the incident light is greater than the critical angle of total internal reflection. By pressing in the outer surface of the light guide, local defects are created at which the light occurs at a smaller angle of incidence than in the untreated areas. The local defects orThe areas with a changed surface represent output points where part of the light is extracted from the light guide and emitted into the environment. The rough surface can, in particular, have a grain size, whereby different grain sizes can be used depending on the desired appearance. The grain size can, for example, be in a range from 6 to 1000 (grain size according to CAMI). With a very fine grain size of approx. 200-1000, the appearance is more homogeneous. With a coarse grain size of 6-30, for example, a pixel-like light effect is achieved. With a medium to fine grain size of 36-180, a correspondingly partially homogeneous effect is achieved. The textile fibers themselves remain undamaged by the rough surface of the roller. This is due to the fact that the textile fibers are flexible and yielding, whereas the light guides have a higher inherent rigidity.The roller activates the light guides only in those areas where the light guides are guided along the surface of the textile. Areas where the light guide is covered by textile fibers remain inactivated, as the textile fibers cover the surface of the light guide there and protect it from damage by the roller.

[0008] In one embodiment, the use of a roller creates a rolling, slip-free movement between the roller surface and the textile, thereby further protecting the textile fibers. It is irrelevant whether the roller is guided over the textile or the textile is guided past a locally fixed rotating roller. The only important thing is that the roller rolls completely without slippage between the roller and the textile. This also prevents abrasion and dirt from remaining in the textile.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the roller's movement is a combination of rolling and translational motion. This adds a friction component to the pressure acting on the light guides, which intensifies the activation and allows for the creation of special lighting effects. The roughness of the roller surface, the geometry of the roller, the type of movement, the contact pressure and the speed can be selected depending on the desired activation effect and the type of textile in question.

[0010] In one embodiment, the surface to be activated is rolled over with the roller once, i.e., exactly once. In another embodiment, the surface to be activated is rolled over with the roller multiple times to achieve a stronger activation of the light guides.

[0011] In order to generate a uniform activation across the surface of the textile, it is advantageous in one embodiment if the pressure between the roller and the textile is kept constant.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the textile is a prefabricated blank for covering an interior component of a motor vehicle. The interior component can be, for example, a dashboard, an armrest, or a trim part, such as a door or pillar trim or a center console. This allows for particularly precise activation, and the process is characterized by high reproducibility.

[0013] If the component geometry allows treatment with the roller, in one embodiment the process is carried out on a textile that is already laminated to a component. This can further increase the accuracy of the local activation. Combined activation can also be carried out by first activating the textile in a specific area, then laminating it to the component, and then further activating it with the roller in the same and / or different areas of the textile. The component is, in particular, an interior component of a motor vehicle.

[0014] In other words, the defects are applied to the light guides using a roller with a rough surface, such as sandpaper, without damaging the textile or fabric (flexible, yielding). The process described above allows the light coupling structure to be applied to prefabricated blanks for lamination of interior components using the roller, so that the textile is not damaged or contaminated.

[0015] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes exemplary embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Where the term "may" is used in this application, it refers to both the technical possibility and the actual technical implementation.

[0016] The following examples are explained using the attached drawing. It shows a schematic representation of: Fig. 1 an example procedure.

[0017] Fig.Figure 1 shows a textile 10 in the form of a woven fabric with weft threads 12 and warp threads 14. Light guides 16 are incorporated into the textile 10, which, like the weft threads 12, are part of the fabric. In their initial state, the light guides 16 have a lateral surface where total internal reflection occurs, so that light fed into the light guide 16 does not exit from the lateral surface.

[0018] For activation, a roller 20 having a rough surface 22 is rolled over the textile 10 under constant pressure. This can be done once or multiple times. During the rolling process, the rough surface of the roller 10 is pressed against the optical fibers 16 and the textile fibers 12, 14. Since the textile fibers 12, 14 are compliant and flexible, they are not damaged. In contrast, local defects are introduced into the relatively rigid optical fibers 12, as the rough surface 22 presses into the outer surface. The resulting defects act as output points, where the light can leave the optical fiber 16. List of reference symbols 10 Textil 12 weft threads 14 warp threads 16 light guides 18 Surface 20 rollers 22 rough surface

Claims

[1] Method for activating light extraction in textiles with the steps: Providing a textile (10) with integrated light guides (16), Moving a roller (20) with a rough surface (22) with pressure over a surface (18) of the textile (10), whereby local defects are applied to the lateral surface of the optical fibers (16). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the rough surface (22) has a grain size in the range of 6 to 1000. [3] Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the roller (20) rolls on the surface (18) of the textile (10) without slippage. [4] Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the movement of the roller (20) is a combination of rolling movement and translational movement. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the surface (18) of the textile (10) is simply rolled over with the roller (20). [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the surface (18) of the textile (10) is repeatedly rolled over with the roller (20). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the pressure between the roller (20) and the textile (10) is kept constant. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which a prefabricated blank is used as the textile (10) for covering an interior component of a motor vehicle. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is carried out on a textile which is already laminated onto a component.

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